Religions explained

God is usually defined as a transcendental being that exists outside of the laws of nature. But since science is limited by and to the laws of nature then science could not detect or test for them.

Just because we can’t scientifically prove that gods do or don’t exist does not necessarily mean they do or don’t exist. Because, by definition, they could exist outside of the laws of nature and therefore outside of the reach of science to detect and “prove” them.

Yes it’s possible that God or a god or gods exist. But it’s not probable.

Religious believers (theists) are motivated by the possibility that a god or gods exists. Atheists are motivated by the probability that a god or gods do not exist.

… in Europe and Asia a profound change of a religious and moral nature took place, more or less within the span of the sixth century BC at widely separated points. At that time, the earliest universal religions, Buddhism and Zoroastrianism, came forth, while those that appeared later, Christianity, Bithraism, Manichaeism, Islam, continued the transformations begun them.

…The individual elements that went into the axial religions had already existed in embryonic forms, sometimes indeed in a well-developed state, in earlier religions. The most fundamental early contribution was the notion that temporal events, touching infinite beings, had an eternal significance; that the brief life of man does not end at death, but is continued in another sphere; and that the quality of that longer existence is the subject of an ultimate judgement, which determines whether he who is judged is to participate fully in that after-life or be deprived of its benefits, perhaps even punished.

That cosmic forces themselves make for righteousness, that there is come close connection between man’s assumed role and process that lie outside his control, shaping his life for good or bad, were well-established principles in Chaldea and Egypt before even the correlated idea, of a single divine providence, came into existence. Religion’s basic premises are the unity and meaningfulness of all life, indeed, of all existence. (p.57)

Despite the pretence of choice, one is born a Buddhist or a Christian, almost as one might be born a Kaffir or an Eskimo. Instead of mingling freely with other men, exchanging the gifts of spirit, a stubborn pride in their own spiritual possessions, yes, and a desire for domination, has often set one axial religion at odds with every other: Mahomet’s tolerance of Moses and Jesus was a happy exception – though it did not create a warm brotherhood with Christians and Jews. In the long history of human cruelty, the treatment of heretics and nonbelievers by the axial religions ranks among its blackest pages: multiplied by desolate chapters devoted to ferocious wars of religion. (p.78)

-Mumford, Lewis. The Transformation Of Man, Torchbook, 1978.

That’s a very good question.

Religions have survived the centuries because they satisfy the basic human need for answers about the universe and our place in it. You see, religion is only possible in intelligent, thinking animals. God and religion are products of our own intelligence. Because our intelligence demands answers. And in the absence of science, that need was filled with what ever was at hand.

And at that time it was mythology, magic and superstition.

That line of thinking continues today’s because most people aren’t sufficiently exposed to an alternative way of thinking.

That religions can exist even though there is no god is self evident. Just look at all the competing mutually exclusive monotheistic religions existing at the same times. They can’t all be simultaneously true. Therefore most or even all of them are built on a god that doesn’t exist. And some of these religions have billions of followers.

But they survive because people are happy with the answers they provide as they have society and the weight of history behind them. And if a serious challenge is mounted the person behind it is often killed or imprisoned to eliminate the conflicting idea. Think the Spanish inquisition, Galileo, the Taliban and blasphemy laws.

In addition they are implanted in young minds before reason and logic can dispute them. Therefore they have precedence on their side.

Religion is about the unknown. And as our knowledge base grows the domain of religion will grow smaller and smaller. But there are areas of knowledge that science will likely never conquer. It’s in these areas that religions can continue their influence.

But only in minds that don’t have exposure to science, reason and logic. As evidenced by the inverse correlation between education and level of religiosity. Religions are strongest in third world uneducated populations and weakest in universities and educated first world populations.

The waning of religion is natural product of a liberal education.

A religion is a tribes rules and collective memories rolled up into an all inclusive world view. It’s passed down from generation to generation until fiction and mythology become fact. Once it becomes the sacred word of god, then we call it a religion.

And that’s why it seems so real from the inside. It’s a complete system with all the answers because it has been tailored to fit the tribe by countless minds over many generations. And it flourishes because it promotes the tribe’s best interest. Not the individual’s interest but the tribe’s interest.

But religion can only become rooted in a child’s mind in the absence of conflicting information. That’s why it’s so important to indoctrinate a child into a religion early in life, before they can learn about the real world.

Indoctrinate them early and sufficiently and they will reject all non religious facts as the work of the devil and pass that belief system on to the next generation.